Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. P. CLARK.

GAR COUPLING. 7 No. 431,333. PatentedJuly 1, 1890.

2,75 d INVENTOH:

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A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT. Orricn.

WILLIAM P. CLARK, DF ELBERTON, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,333, dated July 1,1890.

Application filed January 3, 1890- Serial No. 335,743- (No model.)

draw-bar is employed, the object being to provide a simple practicaldevice, whereby a secure coupling may be effected between adjacent carswithout danger to the operator.

To thisend my invention consists in certain features of construction andcombinations of parts, as hereinafter described, and indicated in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a car with the coupling thereon. Fig. 2is a side elevation of the coupling, broken away and in section, thedevice being attached to adjacent cars, and one in coupled condition;and Fig. 3 is a detached sectional view of the coupling, showing theworking parts in positions relatively assumed when the draw-bar is beingdisconnected from the draw-head.

A represents the drawhead, preferably cast from metal and provided withan interior recess of proper shape to receive the working parts. Therecess has parallel side walls, and its front portion or throat issubstantially rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 1, theouter corner of the lower wall of the draw-head body being cut away androunded to facilitate the introduction of the draw-bar B. A projectingradial flange a is formed on the front of the draw-head A to increaseits area at the front, the inner corners of the side andtop walls beingrounded also to direct the draw-bar into the throat-cavity. At bin thedraw-head a portion of its lower wall is cut away, producing a verticalshoulder at b, whereon the hook end of thedraw-bar B may latch, saiddraw-bar having latch-hooks 0 formed on each end, which depend from thelower side thereof when in use.

A rocking dog D, provided with two limbs d d, is pivoted in the recessof the drawhead A. Said limbs are divergent in hellcrank form, the limb(Z being tapered toward its free end that projects toward and near tothe vertical shoulder 11', so that this end of he rocking-dog limb (1will lie below the latchhookof the draw-bar B when the same is incoupled adjustment with the draw-head body. The limb d of the rockingdog assumes a nearly vertical position when the other limb is prostrateand below the hook c of the drawbar B, and is engaged by the pendentpivoted locking-block e, that is forwardly pressed by the spring 6,which may be a spiral or plate spring, the latter named being preferredand shown in position. The rocking support of the dog D is extendedbeyond the wall of the draw-head A as a shaft f,

which is supported revolubly near its outer end by the dependingbracket-arm 9, that is secured to the car-frame near the side of thecar. A handle h, affiXed to the end of the shaft f, affords means torock the dog D,when necessary.

In operation the draw-bar Bis thrust within the draw-head A, and fromthe obvious action of the working parts is held therein, the

shoulder at c on the block e preventing the bar from falling orinclining downwardly from a horizontal position at its outer end.

The couplings on the cars being alike in con-' struction, the oppositeend of the draw-bar, which projects forwardly, will enter the throat ofan opposed draw-head on an approaching car, when the nose of the hook 0will engage the shoulder e of the block e and rock it rearwardly,thereby permitting the hook end 0 to drop and engage the shoulder b,when the resilience of the spring 6 will project the pendentlocking-block c forwardly, arranging the parts as shown in Fig. 2, whichwill effect a secure automatic coupling of the two cars. By manipulationof the handle h the rocking dog D may be caused to partially revolve, soas to lift its limb d, thus disconnectin g the latch-hook c by thesimultaneous rearward movement of the other limb cl whereby the releaseof the draw-bar is accomplished form, a pendent spring actuatedlockingblock, and a draw-bar provided with a latchhook at each end,substantially as set forth.

2. In acar-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having a recesstherein, a vertical locking-shoulder formed in said recess, a rockingdog of bell-crank form pivoted on a transverse shaft in said recess, anda springactuated pendent locking-block in said recess, of a draw-barhaving latch-hooks, Which project from the same side on each end,substantially as set forth.

3. In a oar-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having aninternal recess formed with a rounded front edge on its throat-Wall, anda vertical locking-shoulderon the bottom wall of the draw-head in saidrecess, of a bell-crank-shaped rocking dog, a pendent locking-blockhaving a locking-shoulder near its pivot-point, a spring normallypressing on 20 a draw-head having an internal recess and a 2 5locking-shoulder formed in said recess, and a draw-bar provided with adepending hook on each end, of a rocking dog of bell-crank form, apendent locking-block having a shoulder adapted to engage one limb ofthe rocking 30 dog, a spring bearing on the pendent lockingblock, atransverse shaft forming the pivot of the rocking dog, and means forrotating said shaft, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM P. CLARK. Vitnesses: I

W. T. VAN DROZER, J NO. '1. HEARD.

